Seeking photography details on Star Wars Canyon / Rainbow Canyon / Father Crowely Point

I've been to Father Crowley point but just as a stopover with entering Death Valley from the northwest. I didn't realize its value for photographing aircraft so I'll be there sometime during the first week of March to photograph whatever flies by. I've already read several articles about A/C photography there but perhaps someone can answer some specific questions.

1. One article mentioned using a scanner to provide a heads-up on approaching aircraft. Since the military usually uses encrypted radios a consumer scanner isn’t going to pick up anything. Are there some public frequencies I can monitor? If so, what are they?

2. What zoom length(s) should I bring?

TIA
DM

I will bow to greater local knowledge but I think the 1500 feet AGL restriction is still in place at the canyon following the accident back in 2019. There is still traffic but nothing below the canyon rim.
For completeness lenswise, should the restriction be removed, I used 100-400mm with a crop body.

Reading recently that the new “hot” spot is Kern River Canyon just west of Lone Pine but it involves a fair hike, all uphill, and then you need a 600mm lens. Also there is supposedly a new photo spot 3 miles north of Crowley Point but not seen any shots as of yet. However I suspect it will again require a fair trek into the weeds.

As to frequencies, 315.9 appears to be still the main contact frequency for the “Sidewinder” low level route (of which Rainbow Canyon was/is a small part) which will give you warning of approaching aircraft. There are also other ATC frequencies that are useful to have just in case such as Joshua, Isabella, Panamint etc ATC zones.

If you have a spare minute or two, this link is to the R-2508 complex handbook which contains everything you need to know about the area - ATC zones, frequencies, routes etc. This is the 2021 version so seems to be the latest.

https://www.edwards.af​.mil …_HmYr01FAfgV6_X​36FA%3d%3d

Thanks Colin! Excellent info.

I downloaded the R-2508 handbook and read the Sidewinder/Jedi sections. It says they still have to stay above the canyon walls.